The yeast Rab GTPase Ypt1 modulates unfolded protein response dynamics by regulating the stability of HAC1 RNA

PLoS Genet. 2012;8(7):e1002862. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002862. Epub 2012 Jul 26.

Abstract

The unfolded protein response (UPR) is a conserved mechanism that mitigates accumulation of unfolded proteins in the ER. The yeast UPR is subject to intricate post-transcriptional regulation, involving recruitment of the RNA encoding the Hac1 transcription factor to the ER and its unconventional splicing. To investigate the mechanisms underlying regulation of the UPR, we screened the yeast proteome for proteins that specifically interact with HAC1 RNA. Protein microarray experiments revealed that HAC1 interacts specifically with small ras GTPases of the Ypt family. We characterized the interaction of HAC1 RNA with one of these proteins, the yeast Rab1 homolog Ypt1. We found that Ypt1 protein specifically associated in vivo with unspliced HAC1 RNA. This association was disrupted by conditions that impaired protein folding in the ER and induced the UPR. Also, the Ypt1-HAC1 interaction depended on IRE1 and ADA5, the two genes critical for UPR activation. Decreasing expression of the Ypt1 protein resulted in a reduced rate of HAC1 RNA decay, leading to significantly increased levels of both unspliced and spliced HAC1 RNA, and delayed attenuation of the UPR, when ER stress was relieved. Our findings establish that Ypt1 contributes to regulation of UPR signaling dynamics by promoting the decay of HAC1 RNA, suggesting a potential regulatory mechanism for linking vesicle trafficking to the UPR and ER homeostasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors* / genetics
  • Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors* / metabolism
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum / genetics
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum / metabolism
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal
  • Protein Array Analysis
  • Protein Folding
  • Protein Interaction Maps
  • RNA Stability / genetics*
  • Repressor Proteins* / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins* / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins* / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins* / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae* / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae* / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Unfolded Protein Response / genetics*
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins* / genetics
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins* / metabolism

Substances

  • Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors
  • HAC1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • YPT1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins